A new fairy welcome tree now greets visitors at Neck Point Park.
In a press release, the City of Nanaimo said the "giving tree" at the park was lost after a windstorm last year, and has now been replaced by the fairy tree. In addition, a number of fairy and gnome homes at the park have been rejuvenated "with new walking paths made from windstorm debris and interpretive signage to guide visitors."
The welcome tree was conceived by artisan Charlie Pickard and carver Cameron Smith, with solar panels by Keith Cook.
More than 45 trees and 300 plants were added near the parking lot as part of an ongoing effort to "restore the forest understory which has been impacted by off-trail foot traffic," the release stated.
As Neck Point Park's reputation has grown, so has the amount of "unsanctioned trails and trampled areas," noted the city.
The city is asking that people not leave any more fairy homes, nor "add non-organic materials such as glitter, plastic or artificial decorations to existing ones."
Kirsty MacDonald, city manager of park operations, said park improvements have been made with "thoughtful planning and stewardship" so that the park retains its biodiversity and beauty while appealing to visitors.
"Recent work at Neck Point Park has been designed to balance the protection of the park's spectacular natural features with growing and evolving community desires for outdoor recreation," she said in the release.
Future park restoration will include removal of invasive species and planting of native vegetation, and environmental fencing will be added to safeguard susceptible areas and to promote tree health.
Students from nearby École Hammond Bay, Nanaimo and Area Land Trust volunteers and city parks staff collaborated on the project.
